Extension-crate.



W. M. WAY.

EXTENSION CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1913.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS ($0., FHOTC-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, C.

WALTER M. WAY, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

EXTENSION -GRATE.

Application filed. November 3, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER M. WAY, citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the'county of Pierce and State of "Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in crates and similar devices of the class capable of being adjusted to increase or decrease the capacity, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the eiiiciency and utility of devices of this character.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and de scribed and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device closed, or with all of the parts arranged to show the crate of the smallest r capacity. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the crate with the parts arranged to show the greatest capacity.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device may be constructed of any required size or proportion, and of any suitable material, and it is not desired therefore, to limit the device in any manner in this respect.

The improved device comprises a basemember having a plurality of vertical standards, an upper frame having a plu rality of vertical standards corresponding in number and adapted to slidably engage the standards of the base, a closure for the upper frame, and coupling means between the standards to retain them in their parallel relations, and providing means where by the standards may be locked in their lowered or elevated position.

The base member is preferably formed of an inclosing frame comprising side members 1011 end members 1213 transverse members 14: spaced apart, and. longitudinal memhere 15, the latter being likewise spaced apart. By this means the bottom member is in the form of an open frame provided with supporting slats upon which the contents of the crate are supported. Any re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Serial No. 798,968.

quired number of the transverse members 14 and the slats 15 may be employed, and it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect.

Rising from the side members 1011 and the end members 1213 are a plurality of standards 16 spaced apart to any required extent. Any required number of the standards may be employed, depending upon the nature of the goods which are to be shipped in the crate, but for the purpose of illustration two of the standards are shown connected to the ends of the base member and three of the standards connected to each of the side members of the base.

The top of the crate comprises an encompassing frame formed of side members 17 18 and end members l920, the upper frame members corresponding substantially in outline to the lower member or base.

Depending from the upper frame member are a plurality of standards 21 correspondmg in number to the standards 16 and slidably engaging respectively therewith as shown. At its lower end each of the stand ards 21 is provided with lateral offsets or enlargements 22 which hear when the device is collapsed or disposed in its smaller size upon the upper edges of the members 10- 111213, as shown in Fig. 1. Each pair of the standards is provided with inclosing bands 23 which retain the standards in their slidable relations and prevent them from displacement laterally. By this simple means it will be obvious that the upper frame member together with its depending standards may be elevated until the guide bands 23.v of the standards are in contact as shown in Fig. 2, or adjusted downwardly until the transverse portions 22 are in engagement with the upper edges of the base members as shown in Fig. 1.

Pivoted to each of the standards 16 near its lower end is a hook 24 adapted to engage over the lateral portions 22 of the upper standards 21 when the device is in its lowered position, as shown in Fig. 1, and thus lock the device in closed position. Similar hooks 25 are pivoted to the standards 16 at their upper ends, preferably to the upper strap 28 and adapted to be engaged beneath the projections 22 when the device is in its open position as shown in Fig. 2. By this means the device may be locked in open or closed position as may be preferred.

The upper member of the improved device is provided with a closure, preferablyformed of a longitudinal slat 26 and transverse slats 26, two or more of the slats being hingedly united at 27 to the 'member 17, while one or more of the slats 26 and one of a the standards 21' are provided with a fastenployed more particularly for shipping crates 1 of goods, or goods in bulk of the character too. large to pass between the slidably engaged standards. Having thus described is claimed as new is:

. LA device of the class described comthe invention, what ,prislng' a base, a plurality of standards '20 spaced apart andrising from said base, an upper member, a plurality of standards connected to said upper member and slidably engaging respectively with the standards of thebase, means adapted to couple the standaids for slidable movement, fastening dev ces operating to limit the upward movement of'the standards on the uppermem- 'ber,'and means operating to hold the standards in collapsed position. V I

2. A device. of the class described comprising a base, a plurality of standards spaced apart and rising from said base, an e 7, upper member, a plurality of standards connected to sald upper member and'slidably engaging respectively with the standards of the'base, each of the standards of the upper member having lateral stops at their lower ends, clips coupling the standards for slidable movement, fastening devices carried by the base and engaging over the stops when 'the upper member and its standards are in their lower position, and other fastening devicescarried by the standards of the lower member for engaging the stops when the upper member and its stop are in their upper position.

3. A device of the class described comprising a base, a plurality of standards spaced apart and rising from said base, an upper member, a plurality of standards connected to said upper member and slidably engaging respectively with the standards of the base, each of the standards of the upper member having lateral stops at their lower ends, clips coupling the standards for slidable movement, fastening devices engaging over the stops when the upper member and its standards are in their lower position, and other fastening devices engaging the stops when theupper member and its stops are in their upper position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VALTER M. WAY.

Witnesses:

J. L. STEWART, MAUDE WAY.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 1 i Washington, D. G. 

